Cutout attachment for advertising signs



May 31, 1960 D. E. WILLIAMS 2,938,289

CUTOUT ATTACHMENT'FOR ADVERTISING SIGNS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F H JNVENTOR. L5 00/? .5. HOW/4W5 A TTORNEK w 7 w T May 31, 1960 D. E. WILLIAMS CUTOUT ATTACHMENT FOR ADVERTISING smus 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1957 INVEIYTQR.

M K WX arroemsn Unite States Patent CUTOUT ATTACHMENT FOR ADVERIISlNG SIGNS Don E. Williams, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Butler Manufacturing Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Dec. 9, 1957, SerQNo. "701,604 Claims. to. 40-12 5 'This invention relates primarily to outdoor advertising signs and deals more particularly with theconstruction and manner of assembly of cutout figures or .panels 50 that they stand out in spaced relation 'from 'a-fixed b'ackground, -for example, the main-copy'area of an outdoor signboard.

Oneofthe'primary objects oi-the invention is'to pro-' vide structure by which'cutouts, as they'are known in'the industry, can be attached to a background in spaced relation thereto with a minimum of time anddifiiculty.

Another object of the invention is to provide support means for such cutouts which may readily be assembled with existing signs, and which, during shipment, take up tion in this connection resides in theprovision ofrneans' whereby the cutout need not be exactlycentered relative the arms beforedropping it into 'final position. This-is of inestimable aid to the erection workers, particularly in situations where the cutouts are of unwieldy size or shape.

A-furth'er object of the invention is to provide a special -support socket adapted to be secured tothe back of the cutout in such numbers as required and which can be easily formed from a flat metal bar or strap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cutout mounting assembly of the character described which is 'f'str'ong, rugged and capable of withstanding years of use.

Other and further objects of the invention together 'with th'efeatures of novelty appurtenantthereto will appear'in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form apaltof thespecification and are'to be read in conjunctiontherewith, and in whichlike reference numerals indicate like 'parts in the variousviews;

Fig. 1 is a 'front elevationof a'typicalsig'nboard fitted "with a'cutout supported according'to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the copy area of the sign'with the cutout removedand illustrating the support arms and attachingbracket;

Fig. 3 is a rear'p'erspective iew of the lower cutout "element showing the 'suppo'rt' sockets attached thereto;

Fig. 4is a sectional view'taken'al'ong'the line of Fig. '1 inthe directionof the arrows;

Fig. '5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the F 2,938,289 1 Patented Fig.6 is a view taken 'aldn'gthe-line"6--=6 of Fig. 5 "in the direction-ofthe arrows.

Referring to the drawings and initially'to Figs. -'1 and '4, the signboard I have selected for illustrating my invention -is a typical 'one having a copy I area made up -of a plurality-of rectangular :panels 'lfldisposeddncoplanar and side byside relationship. These=panels are'supp'orted in any'con-venient fashion on horizontal -stringers-111(see Fig. 4) which extend from one end ofth'e signrto. the other. The stringers 11 may conveniently be angle irons to which are'bolted'or clipped-the panels -10. The stringers are in turn supported by uprightiposts '12, 'any :nurnher ot whichm-ay be spaced across the =back ofthe sign.

1 'It will be understoodthat these posts are setih the'igrbund or in concrete to provide a rigid footing. -'A decorative molding 13 --is provided around the *margin of-the si'gn, -t-his molding being supported-from the. posts and stringers. -It will be-understood that preferably the signboard is-bf the type wherein the :panels are removable without -disturbingthe molding, stringers and posts.

7 Examples of signs for which the present invention is admirably suited will be "found 'in Wi'shait Patent 2,775,833issued January 1, 1957.

The cutout attachment illustrated herein tp-exemplify the invention comprises two separate elements, "namely, an upper torsoandliead-portion of 'a man indicatedat 14 and atpairof keys 15. As'is evident from Fig-.'*4,

both these elements are supported in a'forwardl-y spaced relation with respect-to the planeor-the'signboard.

Tli e key cutout is supported atfour points, indicated by reference numeralslG-in-Fig. 1. The xsimthi's figure to which reference nu'meral;16-is-applied'denote nothing other than the locations of the support. It -will-be noted that these correspond with the locations of four support sockets 1 7 :(later to be described) secured -to the'back of the key cutout 15 and shown in -Fig. 3. I

The support for the cutout is 1 provided by a bracket "andhanger arm assembly whose details maybe-bestwappreciated initially by reference to Fig. '2. The bracket' in eachcase is indicatedegenerallyby-reference-numeral 18 and the hangerarmby 19. V Each "bracket preferablycomprises a fiat base portion 18;: adapted to lie-against theface of a sign panel 'and be'bolted'ther'eto bybolts -20. Ateach end-of this base portion there are outturned flanges, the lower one -being indicate "at 1871 and the upperone at 180. Forming a continuation of the upper -fla nge is "areversely b'ent and irielinedextension18d which terminatesin a'flat portion 182 bentto lie parallel with and in the same plane 'as'th'e base-portion1 8a. 'This end lip or flange -is like- "wise bolted to-[panel '10 by means of bolts- 20.

The hanger arm 19 is a generally -Z-shaped element havinga vertical leg 19a, the horizontal leg 1' 9b-and;an

upturnedbuter end Iportion 19c. The vertical deg-159a "of the hanger arm is received in suitable apertures -21 formed in the en'd'fianges "18b and 180 of the bracket ls, "as shown 'best inFig..6. 4

It will be noted tliatthe inclined extension 18d isprovided withan elongate slot 22 whose upper end 22aextends far enough'toward the sign to .provide an opening in line with the apertures 21 in the flanges 18b and 180 and whose lower end is closely adjacentthe flange-18c. -T he "han er arm '19 is likewise received -thro ugh this slot. In thefpositionsh'own in Fig. 6,-it-is evident that the hanger-farm is incapable of turning to oneside .or the other "about the axis of the vertical portion 1911 since 'ithe horizontal leg 19b is eonfiriedby th'esides of the'slot '22. However, it is free"to be'lifted'fr'om the hanger bracket if the occasion demands,

The upturned portion of 'tlie hanger bracketspro- "yides thetdniie'dtiiig link between the hanger arms-and theseekets 17bit theTear of -the clitoutsandfifviously ends 190 of the support arms.

of the cutout the socket strap forms with the back of the i cutout a socket opening which is of greater area at its bottom than at the top. The sockets 17 are located in the back of the cutout at points which correspond to the locations of the upturned portions 190 on the support 7 I arms. 1

In assembling the cutout with the support arms the procedure is first to place the cutout parallel with the sign with the lower ends of the sockets 17 above the upper This can be accomplished, by a crane if the cutout is of substantial size. men then steady the cutout so that the lower ends of the sockets are relatively centered with respect to the upstanding leg portions 190, and the cutout is lowered thereon.

The upwardly tapering conformation of the leg receiving portions of the sockets assist materially in completing installation quickly in that the sign need not be exactly centered with respect to the hanger arms in order that it be dropped into position. There is considerable tolerance provided by the tapered construction of the sockets,

the only requirement being that the upper ends be brought into the lower ends of the sockets so that the socket may thereafter act as the guide to finally center the cutout on the hanger arms. The cutout is, of course, lowered until the lower edge of the socket strikes the extending horizontal portion 19b of the hanger arm and the cutout is now in final position. The weight of the cutout makes it unnecessary to supply any further bolts between the cutout and the arm or between the arm and the bracket. However, if a positive lock is desired, the hanger arm may be apertured transversely above and below the extremities of the socket and bracket as indicated at 19d, and cotter pins (not shown) inserted therein to form stops preventing lifting of the cutout from the arm and the arm from the bracket. I

The upper cutout element 15, that is the head and shoulder portion of the man, is mounted to the sign in much the same fashion. However, as to the upper portions of the figure which lie above the signboard proper, special extension stringers 23 (see Fig. 4 and dotted lines in Fig. l) are provided on the back of the signboard to extend well above the upper molding 13. These extensions may be secured to stringers 11 as shown in Fig. 4 by means of second angles 24. The brackets 18 in this case are mounted directly to the stringers 23 and the arms 19 (which have longer horizontal portions) are attached thereto in the manner previously described. The upper cutout is likewise provided with the sockets 17 at the places indicated in Fig. 1, and for every socket there is an arm and bracket. Installation of the upper element is accomplished exactly as in the case of the lower element although the upper element may be divided into sections if it proves too unwiedly.

It will be evident from the description which has preceded that should it ever become desirable to take down the cutout or to substitute a new cutout this can be ac-. complished with ease and facility. There are no bolts which need be removed. It is only necessary to lift the cutouts upwardly to disassociate the sockets from the hanger arms and free the cutout. The hanger arms can then be removed by lifting upwardly to disassociate them from their brackets. The brackets can then either be removed or the panels carrying them can be removed from the sign and clean panels installed.

The versatility afforded by the mounting system set forth herein is one'of the most valuable features. For signboards the cutouts and'mounting hardware,

The work-" that is the sockets, brackets and hanger arms, can be shipped with the hangers occupying but a fraction of the space they would otherwise occupy should the hangers be rigid with the brackets. Moreover, the hangers can be quickly installed in the brackets once the brackets are in place and no further bolting is required due to the unique holding arrangement provided by slot 22 in extension 18d.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it

is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an advertising sign of the type having an upright panel area presenting a vertical face, structure for detachably supporting cutouts of substantial area in spaced relation with said facecomprising a plurality of bracket members'secured to said face, each bracket having outwardly extending vertically spaced flanges and the flanges having vertically aligned apertures, a plurality of hanger members, one for each bracket, each hanger member having a vertical leg loosely received in said apertures, a horizontal leg at the upper end of the vertical leg and extending away from the sign, and an upright portion at the outer end of said horizontal leg, each bracket member including stop means above the uppermost flange and comprising members fixedly secured respectively to the face and to the last mentioned flange and engaging opposite sides of said horizontal leg to prevent turning of the hanger member about a vertical axis but permitting free upward movement of the hanger member sufficient to disengage the vertical leg from said apertures, and a plurality of downwardly opened sockets on the rear of said cutouts operable to slidably fit over said upright portions and connect said cutouts to said panel area in spaced relation with said face.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sockets are each tapered so as to be of considerably greater areaat the bottom opening than the cross-sectional area of the upright portion.

3. In an advertising sign of the type having an upright panel area presenting a vertical face, structure for detachably supporting cutouts of substantial area in spaced relation with said face comprising a plurality of bracket members, means for detachably securing said bracket members to said face at spaced locations thereon, each bracket member having a pair of outwardly extending vertically spaced flanges provided with vertically aligned apertures and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined extension from the outer end of the uppermost flange to adjacent the face of the panel, said extension on each bracket having formed therein an elongate slot having its long axis in a. vertical plane normal to the plane of the face and one end thereof in line with the apertures in the flanges therebelow, a plurality of hanger members, one for each bracket, each hanger member-having a vertical leg loosely extending through said apertures and a horizontal leg at the upper end of the vertical leg and extending away a plurality of downwardly open sockets secured to the rear of said cutout and located to register with said upturned portions of said hainger members when the cutout is positioned parallel with said face, said sockets operable to fit slidably over said upturned portions and connect said cutout to said hangers in spaced relation with said face.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein each said socket is tapered so as to present a downwardly open end of appreciably greater cross section than the cross section of the upturned portions of the hangers.

5. In an advertising sign of the type having an upright panel area presenting a vertical face, structure for detachably supporting cutouts of substantial area in spaced relation with said face comprising a. plurality of bracket members, each bracket member having a fiat base adjacent and abutting the face and terminating at its upper and lower ends in flanges extending away from the face, each bracket further having a reversely bent extension integral with the outer end of the uppermost flange and extending on an incline rearwardly and upwardly to a point adjacent the face, said extension terminating in a portion disposed parallel with and in abutment with said face, means for detachably securing said base and fiat portions to said face, the flanges of each bracket having vertically aligned apertures and the reversely bent extension having an elongate slot with its long axis in a vertical plane normal to the face and the upper end of the slot aligned with the flange apertures therebelow, a plurality of hanger members, one for each bracket, each hanger member having a vertical leg loosely extending through said apertures and a horizontal leg at the upper end of the vertical leg and extending away from said face, said horizontal leg lying below said inclined extension for a portion of its length and emerging through said slot at a point remote from the axis of said apertures, said slot having a width only slightly greater than the thickness of said horizontal leg whereby the edges of said slot prevent rotation of said hanger away from its outwardly extending position, said horizontal leg terminating at its outer end in an upturned portion, and downwardly open sockets secured to the rear of said cutout and located to register with said upturned portions of said hanger members when the cutout is positioned parallel with said face, said sockets operable to fit slidably over said upturned portions and connect said cutout to said hangers in spaced relation with said face.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,100 Jones July 2 1889 947,377 DePuy Jan. 25, 1910 956,857 Jennings May 3, 1910 1,073,477 Dietz Sept. 16, 1913 1,256,523 C-usack Feb. 19, 1918 2,210,120 Gladstone et a1. Aug. 6, 1940 2,447,128 Logan Aug. 17, 1948 2,633,652 Wagner et a1. Apr. 7, 1953 2,642,686 Simpson June 23, 1953 

